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Abstract:

A keyswitch assembly includes a movable keycap having a space provided in
a bottom of the keycap; a metal support plate having an opening, the
metal including a cantilever bridge; a switch located under the opening
of the metal support plate; a magnet disposed within the space of the
keycap; wherein as the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an initial
state and the keyswitch assembly is OFF, and the magnet draws in the
cantilever bridge, and as the keycap is depressed downward, the magnet is
forced to depart from the cantilever bridge and actuates the switch
making the keyswitch assembly to turn ON. As the forced is released, the
magnetic force between the cantilever bridge and the magnet forces the
keycap to return its initial state.

Claims:

1. A keyswitch assembly comprising: a movable keycap having a space
provided in a bottom of the movable keycap; a metal support plate having
an opening, the metal support plate including a cantilever bridge; a
switch located under the opening of the support plate; a magnet disposed
within the space of the keycap; wherein, as the keycap is undepressed,
the keycap is in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF
state, the magnet attracts to contact the cantilever bridge, as the
keycap moves downward by a force, the magnet actuates the switch making
the keyswitch assembly in ON state, as the force is released, the
magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the cantilever bridge
forces the keycap resume to the initial state.

2. The keyswitch assembly of claim 1, wherein the keycap has a pivotal
for connecting to with the metal support plate pivotally.

3. The keyswitch assembly of claim 1, wherein the switch is a membrane
switch.

4. A keyswitch assembly comprising: a movable keycap having a space; a
metal support plate having an opening, the metal support plate including
a bridge pillar and a bridge floor; a switch located beneath the opening
of the support plate; a magnet disposed within the space of the keycap;
wherein, as the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an initial state
and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the magnet attracts to
contact the bridge floor, as the keycap moves downward by a force, the
magnet actuates the membrane switch making the keyswitch assembly in ON
state, as the force is released making the keycap resumes to the initial
state due to the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the
bridge floor.

5. The keyswitch assembly of claim 4, wherein the switch is a membrane
switch.

6. A keyboard comprising the keyswitch assembly as recited in claim 1.

7. A keyboard comprising the keyswitch assembly as recited in claim 4.

8. A keyswitch assembly comprising: a movable keycap having a bottom
extending to form a hook leg, the hook leg including a leg plane; a metal
support plate including a cantilever bridge; a switch located beneath the
keycap; a magnet disposed over the leg plane; wherein, as the keycap is
undepressed, the keycap is in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly
is in OFF state, and the magnet attracts to contact the cantilever
bridge, as the keycap moves downward by a force, the magnet departs from
the cantilever bridge, and as the force is released, the magnetic
attraction force between the magnet and the cantilever bridge makes
keycap resumes to the initial state.

9. The keyswitch assembly of claim 8, wherein as the keycap moves
downward by a force, the hook leg actuates the switch.

10. The keyswitch assembly of claim 8, further comprising a scissors-type
supporting element respectively connected to the keycap and the metal
support plate, wherein the scissors-type supporting element has an
actuator for actuating the switch as the keycap moves downward by a
force.

11. The keyswitch assembly of claim 8, wherein the keycap includes an
actuator actuating the switch as the keycap moves downward by a force.

12. A keyswitch assembly comprising: a movable keycap having a bottom
extending to form a hook leg, the hook leg including a leg plane embedded
with a metal plate; a metal support plate including a cantilever bridge,
the cantilever bridge having a bottom providing a magnet corresponding to
the metal plate; a switch located beneath the keycap; wherein, as the
keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an initial state and the
keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the magnet adheres the metal
plate, as the keycap moves downward by a force, the metal plate escapes
from the magnet, and as the force is released, the magnetic attraction
force between the magnet and the metal plate makes the keycap to resume
to the initial state.

13. The keyswitch assembly of claim 12, wherein as the keycap moves
downward by a force, the hook leg actuates the switch.

14. The keyswitch assembly of claim 12, further comprising a
scissors-type supporting element respectively connected to the keycap and
the metal support plate, wherein the scissors-type supporting element has
a actuator for actuating the switch as the keycap moves downward by a
force.

15. The keyswitch assembly of claim 12, wherein the keycap includes an
actuator actuating the switch as the keycap moves downward by a force.

16. A keyboard comprising the keyswitch assembly as recited in claim 8.

17. A keyboard comprising the keyswitch assembly as recited in claim 12.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This utility application claims priority to Taiwan application
serial number 100210415, filed on Jun. 9, 2011, and 100214365, filed on
Aug. 4, 2011, that are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure

[0003] The invention relates to a keyswitch assembly and a keyboard, and
more particularly, to a keyswitch assembly utilizing the magnetic
attraction force as restoration driving force for the keycap.

[0004] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art

[0005] Other than the mobile devices with touch panel input apparatus, to
many electronic devices the keyboard still is an indispensable apparatus.
But due to the need for ultra thin notebook computers, keyboard on the
ultra thin notebook computers needs to be as thin as possible.

[0006] The conventional keyswitch assembly typically has an elastic
element, such as the rubber dome, which provides a driving force resuming
the keycap to its initial state as an applied force on keyswitch is
released. However, the conventional elastic element has a minimum height
for operation which requires a height for the keyswitch assembly to
accommodate the elastic element. In other words, the size of conventional
keyswitch assembly can not be reduced further due to the existence of the
elastic element.

[0007] The keyswitch having magnetic elements has been used in the
production of keyswitch assembly, and the related technologies can be
found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,148.

[0008] One of the objectives of the invention is the reduction of overall
height of keyswitch and the keyboard.

[0009] The technical issue to be tackled is achieved by providing a
keyswitch assembly employing magnetic attraction force as driving force
for the keycap to restore to its initial state by the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the keyswitch assembly
includes a movable keycap, a metal support plate, a switch and a magnet.
The movable keycap has a bottom providing a space. The metal support
plate has an opening and includes a cantilever bridge. The switch is
located beneath the opening of support plate. The magnet is disposed
within the space of keycap. As the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is
in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the
magnet attracts to contact the cantilever bridge. As the keycap moves
downward by a force, the magnet actuates the switch making the keyswitch
assembly in ON state. As the force is released the keycap resumes to the
initial state, due to the magnetic attraction force between the magnet
and the cantilever bridge.

[0011] In one embodiment, the keycap includes a pivotal for connecting to
the metal support plate pivotally.

[0012] According to a second preferred embodiment, the keyswitch assembly
includes a movable keycap, a metal support plate, a switch and a magnet.
The movable keycap has a space. The metal support plate has an opening
and includes a bridge pillar and a bridge floor. The switch is located
beneath the opening of the support plate . The magnet is disposed within
the space of keycap. As the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an
initial state and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the magnet
attracts to contact the bridge floor. As the keycap moves downward by a
force, the magnet actuates the membrane switch making the keyswitch
assembly in ON state. As the force is released, the keycap resumes to the
initial state due to the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and
the bridge floor. The switch may be a membrane switch.

[0013] According to a third preferred embodiment, the keyswitch assembly
includes a movable keycap, a metal support plate, a switch and a magnet.
The movable keycap has a bottom extending to form a hook leg and the hook
leg has a leg plane. The metal support plate includes a cantilever
bridge. The switch is located beneath the keycap. The magnet is disposed
on the leg plane. As the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an
initial state and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the magnet
attracts to contact the cantilever bridge. As the keycap moves downward
by a force, the magnet escapes from the cantilever bridge. As the force
is released, the keycap resumes to the initial state due to the magnetic
attraction force between the magnet and the cantilever bridge. As the
keycap moves downward by a force, the hook leg actuates the switch.

[0014] In one embodiment, keyswitch assembly further comprises a
scissors-type supporting element respectively connected to the keycap and
the metal support plate, wherein the scissors-type supporting element
further includes an actuator, and as the keycap moves downward by a
force, the actuator actuates the switch.

[0015] In one embodiment, an actuator is provided at the bottom of keycap,
and as the keycap moves downward by a force, the actuator actuates the
switch.

[0016] According to the fourth preferred embodiment, the keyswitch
assembly includes a movable keycap, a metal support plate, and a switch.
The movable keycap has a bottom extending to form a hook leg, the hook
leg has a leg plane and the leg plane is embedded with a metal plate. The
metal support plate includes a cantilever bridge having a bottom
providing a magnet which corresponds to the metal plate. The switch is
located beneath the keycap. As the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is
in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly is in OFF state, and the
magnet attracts to contact the metal plate. As the keycap moves downward
by a force, the magnet escapes from the metal plate. As the force is
released, the keycap resumes to the initial state due to magnetic
attraction force between the magnet and the metal plate. As the keycap
moves downward by a force, the hook leg actuates the switch.

[0017] The accompanying drawings, incorporated as a part of this
specification, are used for further understandings of the preferred
embodiments of the invention and can not be used to limit the protected
scope of the invention that are described in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1A illustrate a keyswitch assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention in explosive form.

[0030] While preferred embodiments are depicted in the drawings, those
embodiments are illustrative and are not exhaustive, and many other
equivalent embodiments may be envisioned and practiced based on the
present disclosure by persons skilled in the arts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention now will be described more fully herein with
reference to the accompanied figures, in which embodiments of the
invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments
set forth herein.

[0032] Accordingly, while the invention is susceptible to various
modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are
shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to
limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the
contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the
description of the figures.

[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the
invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"comprises" and/or "comprising" used in this specification do not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other selectivity
features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
And the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to
which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms
defined in commonly used dictionaries will not be interpreted in an
idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1A, a preferred embodiment of the keyswitch
assembly 10 shown includes a movable keycap 100, a metal support plate
104, a switch 109, and a magnet 107. The bottom of movable keycap 100 has
a space 102. The metal support plate 104 has an opening 106 and includes
a cantilever bridge 108. The switch 109 is located beneath the opening
106 of support plate 104. The magnet 107 is disposed within the space 102
of keycap 100. As the keycap 100 is undepressed, the keycap 100 is in an
initial state shown in FIG. 1B, and the keyswitch assembly 10 is in OFF
state, the magnet 107 attracts to contact the cantilever bridge 108. As
the keycap 100 moves downward by a force, the magnet 107 actuates the
switch 109 making the keyswitch assembly 10 in ON state. As the applied
force is released, because of the magnetic attraction force between the
magnet 107 and the cantilever bridge 108, the keycap 100 resumes to the
initial state. The keycap 100 has a pivotal 100a for connecting pivotally
to the metal support plate 104. The switch 109 may be a printed circuit
board membrane switch of single layer, dual layers or three layers.

[0036] FIG. 1B shows the keyswitch assembly of FIG. 1A in assembly form
(while switch 109 is OFF). Since the attraction force between the magnet
107 and the cantilever bridge 108, the keycap 100 naturally moves
upwardly to an upper dead point at which the switch 109 is OFF. FIG. 1C
shows the keyswitch assembly of FIG. 1A in assembly form (while switch
109 is ON) when an external force is applied on the keycap 100. This
external force must to confront the magnetic attraction force between the
magnet 107 and the cantilever bridge 108 in order to move the keycap 100
downward to a lower dead point. As the lower dead point is reached, the
switch 109 is turned ON by the magnet 107. Afterwards as the applied
force disappears, the keyswitch assembly 10 will transit from state of
FIG. 1C to that of FIG. 1B.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, a keyswitch
assembly 20 includes a movable keycap 200 having a space 202, a metal
support plate 204 having an opening, a switch 209 and a magnet 207. The
metal support plate 204 includes a bridge pillar 208a and a bridge floor
208b. The switch 209 is located beneath the opening of support plate 204.
The magnet 207 is disposed within the space 202 of keycap 200. As the
keycap 200 is undepressed, the keycap 200 is in an initial state, as
shown in FIG. 2B, and the keyswitch assembly 20 is in OFF state, and the
magnet 207 attracts to contact the bridge floor 208b. As the keycap 200
moves downward due to a force, the magnet 207 actuates the switch 209
making the keyswitch assembly 20 in ON state. As the force is released,
the keycap 200 moves upward resuming to the initial state due to the
magnetic attraction force between the magnet 207 and the bridge floor
208b.

[0038] FIG. 2B shows the keyswitch assembly of FIG. 2A in assembly form
(while the switch 209 is OFF). Due to the attraction force between the
magnet 207 and the bridge floor 208a, the keycap 200 naturally moves
upward to an upper dead point at which the switch 209 is in OFF state.
FIG. 2C shows the keyswitch assembly of FIG. 2A in assembly form (while
the switch 209 is ON) in which an external force is applied on the keycap
200. This external force has to resist the magnetic attraction force
between the magnet 207 and the bridge floor 208a in order to move the
keycap 200 downward to a lower dead point. As the lower dead point is
reached, the switch 209 is activated to ON state by the magnet 207.
Afterwards as the applied force disappears, the state of the keyswitch
assembly 20 changes from state of FIG. 2C to that of FIG. 2B.

[0039] Furthermore, the distance between two bridge pillars 208a may be
about identical to the width of the magnet 207 to restrain the lateral
displacement of the magnet 207 during its vertical movement. The switch
209 may be a membrane switch.

[0040] While employing the above described keyswitch assembly 10, a
preferred embodiment of the invention is a keyboard which includes at
least a keyswitch assembly 10.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3A, another preferred embodiment of the keyswitch
assembly 30 includes a movable keycap 301, a metal support plate 303, a
switch 319 located beneath the keycap 301 and a magnet 311 disposed on a
leg plane. The movable keycap 301 has a bottom extending to form a hook
leg 305 which has a leg plane. The metal support plate 303 includes a
cantilever bridge 302. As the keycap 301 is undepressed, the keycap 301
is in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly 30 is in OFF state, and
the magnet 311 attracts to contact the cantilever bridge 302. As the
keycap 301 moves downward by a force, the magnet 311 escapes from the
cantilever bridge 302. As the force is released, the magnetic attraction
force between the magnet 311 and the cantilever bridge 302 forces the
keycap 301 to resume to the initial state. The label 315 indicates a
conventional scissors-type supporting element which is respectively
connected to the keycap 301 and the metal support plate 303. The element
label 309 indicates a conventional membrane disposed on the circuit
membrane 307 for protecting the circuit membrane 307. According to a
preferred embodiment, the membrane 309 may be a Polyester membrane
(Mylar). As the keycap 301 moves downward by a force, the hook leg 305
actuates the switch 319.

[0042] FIG. 3B discloses another preferred embodiment which has some parts
identical to those shown in FIG. 3A. The difference between this
embodiment and that of FIG. 3A resides on that the scissors-type
supporting element 315 further has an actuator 317 which actuates the
switch 319 as the keycap 301 moves downward by a force.

[0043] FIG. 3C discloses still another preferred embodiment which has some
parts identical to those shown in FIG. 3A. The difference between this
embodiment and that of FIG. 3A resides on that the downside of keycap 301
has an actuator 317 to actuate the switch 319 as the keycap 301 moves
downward by a force.

[0044] As indicated in FIG. 4A, in accordance with another preferred
embodiment, the keyswitch assembly 40 includes a movable keycap 401, a
metal support plate 403 and a switch 429. The movable keycap 401 has a
bottom extending to form a hook leg 405. The hook leg 405 has a leg plane
embedded with a metal plate 422. The metal support plate 403 includes a
cantilever bridge 402 having a bottom which provides a magnet 411
corresponding to the metal plate 422. The switch 429 is located beneath
the keycap 401. As the keycap 401 is undepressed, the keycap 401 is in an
initial state, the keyswitch assembly 40 is in OFF state and the magnet
411 adheres the metal plate 422. As the keycap 401 moves downward by a
force, the magnet 411 escapes from the metal plate 422. As the force is
released, the magnetic attraction force between the magnet 411 and the
metal plate 422 forces the keycap 401 to resume to its initial state. The
label 425 represents a traditional scissors-type supporting element
respectively connected to the keycap and the metal support plate. The
label 209 represents a conventional membrane disposed on the circuit
membrane 407 for protecting the circuit membrane 407. According to a
preferred embodiment, the membrane 409 might be a Polyester membrane. As
the keycap 401 moves downward by a force, the hook leg 405 actuates the
switch 429.

[0045] Alternatively, FIG. 4B discloses another preferred embodiment which
has parts identical to those shown in FIG. 4A. The difference between
this embodiment and that of FIG. 4A resides on that the scissors-type
supporting element 425 further has an actuator 417 which actuates the
switch 429 as the keycap 401 moves downward by a force.

[0046] FIG. 4C discloses still another preferred embodiment which has
parts identical to those shown in FIG. 4A. The difference between this
embodiment and that of FIG. 4A resides on that the downside of keycap 401
has an actuator 417 actuating the switch 429 as the keycap 401 moves
downward by a force.

[0047] Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings,
positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth
in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are
approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that
is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is
customary in the art to which they pertain. Furthermore, unless stated
otherwise, the numerical ranges provided are intended to be inclusive of
the stated lower and upper values. Moreover, unless stated otherwise, all
material selections and numerical values are representative of preferred
embodiments and other ranges and/or materials may be used.

[0048] The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims, and such
scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is
consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the
claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the
prosecution history that follows, and to encompass all structural and
functional equivalents thereof.